Convection Cooling of Data Center Using Chimney

Abstract

A data center includes a bank of computers, a plenum in fluid communication with the bank of computers, and a chimney in fluid communication with the plenum. The chimney is configured to use heat from the bank of computers to sufficiently lower an air pressure in the plenum to cause an air flow across the bank of computers sufficient to cool the bank of computers for normal operation.

1 . A data center, comprising:
 a bank of computers;   a plenum in fluid communication with the bank of computers; and   a chimney in fluid communication with the plenum and configured to use heat from the bank of computers to sufficiently lower an air pressure in the plenum to cause an air flow across the bank of computers sufficient to cool the bank of computers for normal operation.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a boost fan configured to assist a flow of air from the plenum through the chimney.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the boost fan is not capable of causing a sufficient pressure drop in the plenum to flow sufficient air to cool the bank of computers in an absence of the chimney. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chimney is insulated to reduce dissipation of heat from a flow of air inside the chimney to a surrounding environment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chimney is configured to absorb heat from a surrounding environment. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chimney extends at least 50 feet above a bottom of the plenum. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plenum includes baffles configured to separate air within the plenum from air outside of the plenum. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a movable cowl attached to an upper end of the chimney and configured to direct a chimney opening away from a wind direction.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an enclosure surrounding the bank of computers and having formed therein an air inlet and an opening for the chimney.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a liquid injector configured to apply a liquid to an inlet flow of air that flows through the bank of computers and into the plenum   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid includes water. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat exchanger configured to cool an inlet flow of air that flows through the bank of computers and into the plenum.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger includes an evaporative cooler. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bank of computers comprises a rack of computers. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the bank of computers comprises at least twenty-two computers. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat source configured to heat an inlet flow of air that flows through the bank of computers and into the plenum. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the heat source is hot air extracted from the plenum or chimney. 
     
     
         18 . A method of providing cooling for a data center, comprising:
 flowing a flow of air through a bank of computers and into a plenum;   flowing the flow of air into a lower portion of a chimney configured to use heat from the bank of computers to lower an air pressure in the plenum, the chimney being configured to use heat from the bank of computers to sufficiently lower the air pressure in the plenum such that the flow of air across the bank of computers is sufficient to cool the bank of computers for normal operation;   flowing the flow of air out of an upper portion of the chimney.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 boosting the flow of air into the chimney with a boost fan configured to flow air from the plenum through the chimney.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the boost fan is not capable of causing a sufficient pressure drop in the plenum to sufficiently cool the bank of computers in an absence of the chimney. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the chimney is insulated to reduce dissipation of heat from the flow of air inside the chimney to a surrounding environment. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the chimney is configured to absorb heat from a surrounding environment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the chimney extends at least 50 feet above a bottom of the plenum. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plenum includes baffles configured to separate air within the plenum from air outside of the plenum. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bank of computers is surrounded by an enclosure having formed therein an air inlet and an opening for the chimney. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 adjusting a movable cowl attached to the upper chimney end to direct a chimney opening away from a wind direction.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 cooling an inlet flow of air that flows through the bank of computers and into the plenum.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the cooling includes applying liquid to the inlet flow of air. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the liquid includes water. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the cooling includes flowing the inlet flow of air through a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the heat exchanger includes an evaporative cooler. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bank of computers comprises a rack of computers. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the bank of computers comprises at least twenty-two computers. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising heating an inlet flow of air that flows through the bank of computers and into the plenum. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein heating comprises extracting hot air from the plenum or chimney.